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Tag: PED

  • Bacon Prices Rise After Virus Kills Millions of Baby Pigs

    A virus not seen before in the United States killed millions of baby pigs since last May, and it is threatening pork production and pushing up pork prices.

    Estimates on how many pigs have died from porcine epidemic diarrhea in the last year vary, from 2.7 million to as many as 6 million. Because PED thrives in cold weather, there has been a larger death toll since December. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the country’s pig population has decreased by as much as three percent to roughly 63 million pigs.

    Scientists think the virus came from China, but they do not know how it got into the U.S. or how it spread to 27 states in less than a year. They do know that it does not infect humans or other animals.

    Prices of pork products have already increased sharply. A pound of bacon averaged $5.46 in February, up 13 percent from a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ham and chops prices have also gone up, although not much.

    The U.S. is a top producer and exporter of pork, and it is estimated that production could decrease by seven percent this year compared to last year, the biggest drop in more than 30 years, according to Rabobank.

    PED is life-threatening to newborn pigs because it causes them to dehydrate quickly. The best chance at saving young pigs is to wean them and then pump them with clear fluids that hydrate them. Craig Rowles, a farmer and veterinarian with a farm in Iowa, explained that many of the 13,000 pigs that died on his farm in a matter of weeks in November had to be euthanized.

    “It’s very difficult for the people who are working the barns at that point,” Rowles said.

    “No one wants to go to work today and think about making the decision of baby pigs that need to be humanely euthanized because they can’t get up anymore. Those are very hard days,” Rowles said.

    The federal government is looking into how these types of viruses might spread, and the pork industry has committed $1.7 million to research the disease. Researchers are rushing to come up with a vaccine, but one has not yet been approved by the federal government.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Pig Virus Makes Its Way From the U.S. to Canada

    A deadly virus known as porcine epidemic diarrhea (PEDv) is spreading among hog herds in Canada and is said to be affecting two provinces.

    The pig virus, which was tested positive in the United States last May, has now made its way to the farm regions of Ontario and Quebec.

    Twenty-three hog herds (equivalent to 66 million animals) in the U.S. infections included vomiting and diarrhea caused by the virus epidemic.

    A farm located in Middlesex County was the first to notice that its herd picked up the disease.

    NPR reported:

    “Since its arrival, PED has been spreading relentlessly…PED spreads within barns and from farm to farm, even when strict biosecurity measures — hand-washing for livestock workers — are in place. That’s because it can survive in tiny bits of manure that travel on boots or trucks.”

    Although investigators have reported that the virus will neither affect human health nor prices on bacon, the Canadian Swine Health Board has clarified how deadly this virus can be.

    Piglets are in more danger of its symptoms than are full-grown pigs.

    Since the disease thrives better in colder conditions, baby pigs are affected more by the diarrhea, which results in severe dehydration. An increase in affected pigs may be devastating for Canada’s swine population, resulting in a high mortality rate.

    The Olymel S.E.C. LP processing facility’s spokesman, Richard Vigneaul, told Bloomberg “the virus may have ‘a very serious economic impact’ on Canada’s pork industry if it spreads and reduces the supply of pigs.”

    Canada’s herd, unfortunately, has no immunity to PEDv. However, Vigneaul has reassured that they have taken disinfecting measures to help stop the dispersion of the disease.

    The RNA Particle Vaccine, an already existing immunization by Harrisvaccines, has been used in U.S. farms but shows no guaranteed resilience to PEDv.

    Animal health companies are still working on a second vaccination that will prevent pigs from further contracting PEDv.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons